Automatic or semi-automatic attachment for quick-firing guns.



PATENTED DB d. 2 2 1 903.

I L. v. BENET & H. A. MERGIE. AUTOMATTG 0R SEMI-AUTOMATIC ATTACHMENT FOR QUICK FIRINGGUNS.

' APPLICATION FILED 001. so, 19oz R0 MODEL. '(SHEETS-SHEET 1.

itwzaaeo No. 747,848. PATENTED DEO.22,1903..

- L. v. BENET & H. A. MEROIE. AUTOMATIC 0R SEMI-AUTOMATIC ATTACHMENT FOR. QUICK FIRING GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 30. 1902.

N0 MODEL. 7 SHEETSSH PET 2 PATENTET) DEC. 22, 1903. L. v. BENET & H. A. MBRGIE.

AUTOMATIC 0R SEMI-AUTOMATIC ATTACHMENT FOR QUICK FIRING GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 30.1902.

' 7 SHEETS-SHEET 3 no MODEL.

7 No. 747.848. r PATENTED.i jEG.2-2,1908.

L. V. BENBT & H. A. MEROIE. AUTOMATIC 0B. SEMI-AUTOMATIC ATTACHMENT FOR QUICK FIRING GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 30. 1902.

no menu. V W 7 slgmrg-gnm 4.

No. 747,848. ATENTED DEC. 22, 1903.

L. v. BBNET & H. MERGIE. AUTOMATIC 0 SEMI-AUTOMATIC ATTACHMENT FOR QUICK FIRING GUNS.

APPLIOATION FILED new. so, 1902.

no MODEL. 7 sums-sun 5.

No. 747,848. i-PATENTBD' DB0. 22, 1903.

. L. v. BBNET & H. A. MERGIE. AUTOMATIC 0R SEMI-AUTOMATIC ATTACHMENT FOR QUICK FIRING GUNS.

APPLIOATION FILED OCT. 30.1902.

N0 MODEL.

'I SHEETS-SHEBT 8.

"PATENTED DEC. 22, 1903. L. v. BENET & H. A. MERCIE. AUTOMATIC OR SEMI-AUTOMATIC ATTACHMENT FOR QUICK FIRING GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED on. so 1902.

' 7 sums-sum 7..

H0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented December 22, 1903 PATENT FFICE.

LAURENCE v; BENET AND HENRI A. MEROIE, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

AUTOMATIC OR SEMI-AUTOMATIC ATTACHMENT FORltQUlCK-HRING GUNS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 747,848, dated December 22. 1903.

Application filed October 30, 1902.

Serial No. 129,440. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, LAURENCE V. BENET, a citizen of the United States, and HENRI A. MERCIE, a citizenot France, both residing at Paris, France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic or Semi-Automatic Attachments for Quick-Firing Guns; and we do hereby declare the following to be afulhclear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our present invention relates to improvements in mechanism wherebya breech-loading cannon may be made to operate automatically 0r semi-automatically or may be fired single shot by hand, as may be preferred.

With the herein-described mechanism a gun may be loaded and fired by hand, the automatic and semi-automatic attachment being thrown out of operation,'or the force of the discharge may be utilized to operate the breech mechanism, the cartridges being inset-ted either by hand or from a hopper. If continuous fire at maximum rapidity is desired, the gun may be caused to operate wholly automatically.

The invention, while applicable to most of the various types of breech-loading cannon, is shown as embodied in the gun ot the wellknown Hotch kiss type-such, for instance, as is shown in the patents to B. B. Hotchkiss,

' Nos. 270,589 and 270,590, granted January 16, 1883and the semi-automatic gear is that shown in the patent to Beut and Merci, No. 649,393, Semi-automatic gun,granted May 6, 1900; but we do not mean to routine our invention either to this special type of ordnance or to this special type of semcautomatic gear, but simply refer to these as one embodiment of the invention.

The invention consists in an automatic mechanism which is applied to a semi autoof tools.

automatically inoperative when the cartridgesin the hopper have become exhausted. Afeature of the mechanism is the arrange-- ment by which it is inoperative until the empty case is extracted and fully ejected, thus avoiding any danger of jams or double loading. The said automatic mechanism being mounted on the shoulder-piece to the left of the gun, there is no interference with the sighting arrangement and the right of the gun is left quite clear for hand-loadin The invention further consists in a device applied to the breech mechanism by which it the firing-lanyard be held constantly to the rear and the sear thrown out of action the firing-hammer will be tripped at the moment that the breech is fully closed and looked, thus instantly firing the gun. This arrangement permits the delivery of cont-inuous lire at the maximum rapidity.

In the accompanying drawings we have shown our improvements embodied in our system of semi-automatic gun hereinbet'ore referred to. The description of the gun, the mounting, and the semi-automatic gear itself will, however, be omitted, as all of these elements are well known.

Figure l is a side elevation of the gun complete, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the gun, partly in section, alpng the broken line 2 2 of Fig. 1 and with the gun-shield removed. Fig. 3 is a rear viewof the gun detached from the mount and uith the shoulder-piece removed. Fig. 4 is asection through the casing, hopper, and shoulder-bar along the line 4. 4: of Fig. 1, thiy breech of the gun being shown in elevation and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 5 is a similar section along the broken line 5 6 of Fig. l and shows the carrier in the position of taking a cartridge. Fig. 6 isa similar section to that shown in Fig. iron the return of the carrier to its original position after the supply of cartridges in the hopper is exhausted and illustrating the mode of locking the automatic loading apparatus when there are no more cartridges in the hopper. Fig. 7 is a detail showing an interior view of the casting which constitutes the hopper and the casing for the loading apparatus. Fig. 8

is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 7, and it also shows in dotted lines a compleshowing the lock for the deflector.

mentary casting or frame which is rigidly attached to the cradle of the gun. Fig. 9 is a rear view of the frame shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8, and Fig. 10 is a section along the line l0 10 of Fig. 9 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 11 is a detailshowing the carrier in side view as detached from the casing and also shows the rammer and the loading-piston. Figs. 11 and 11 are details showing the mode of assembling the spiral spring for rocking the carrier. Fig. 12 is a view seen from the left of Fig. 11, but with the deflector and deflector-lever added. Fig. 13 is adetail showingt-he slotted loading-piston. Figs. 14 and l5-are details Fig. 16 is a side elevation of the breech of the gun, showing the automatic firing gear. Fig. 17 is a plan of the automatic firing-gear shown in Fig. 16. Fig. 18 is a rear view of the automatic firing-gearshown in Figs. 16 and 17. Fig. 19 is a detail showing the sliding detent used in the automatic firing-gear. Figs. 20 and 21 show difierent positions of the automatic firing-gear. In Fig. 20 the hammer is in the firing position, and in Fig. 21 the ham merisin the cooked position, Figs. 22 and 23 are details of the bracket which is secured to the gun and operates the automatic loading mechanism, Fig. 22 being a side elevation and Fig. 23 being an inverted plan. Fig. 24 is a detail showing the deflector-lever as seen from the left of the position shown in Fig. 12.

A represents the gun. B represents the breech-block, which, as shown, is of the wellknown Hotchkis's type and is operated by a stud c 'on the arm 0*, which is fast to the 0peraIting-shaft, O and is rotated by the oper-.

ating vhand-lever C (see Fig. 16) orby the automatic attachment D D, connected to the arm a, as shown in Fig. 1. All of these details above descr ihedare shown in our Patent No. (H9393, alfi' lady referred to, and need not he further't'lesci'ibed herein. I

E representsa frame which is secured to the cradle and carries a shoulder-piece E" and performs other functions that will be hereinafter described.

F representsa casing which is preferably made as a single casting and is shown in detail in Figs. 3 to 8. This casing is provided with a hopper on its upper side, which is preferably composed of two guides F to receive the ends of the cartridge Z. This casing is also provided with yokesfandf, which are secured by pins G and G to corresponding yokes e and e on the frame E. The casing also has shoulders F which rest on, the breech ofthe gun, It will be seen that upon removing the pins G and G the casing F andthe contained mechanism may be removed from thegun. I

represents the carrier, which has a hollowrocl'c saftor cylinder H, which is pivoted in the-jobrnal-bearings f in the casing F and in corresponding bearings c? in the frame E, the frame and easing thus forming a complete bearing for the hollow rock-shaft, as shown in Fig. 3. carries arms H and H on which is pivoted the tray H, as at 71. The arms H 'and H are connected by a guard plate H having curved lips 71.. The purpose of this guardplate is to arrest the shell and prevent loading when automatic action is not desired. By examining Fig. 6 it will be seen that the shell Z is prevented from passing into the tray by the guard-plate H The lips h are to prevent the shell from rolling to the left after it gets into the tray and jamming the parts. The hollow rock-shaft H is slotted at H to receive the rammer L, which is pivoted on the pin L to the lugs H which are secured to or integral with the hollow rockshaft H. The upper end of the rammer projects into a recess 71 in the end of the carrier and when in the locked position abuts against the stop 7A7. Inside of the hollow rock-shaft is a piston K and the torsional spring I. This spring is secured at one end, as at 2', (see Fig. 11",) to the cylinder-head I, which is loosely mounted in the hollow rockshaft- H, but is provided with a stop-shoulder 11 and a lug 11 which engage corresponding shoulders f (see Fig. 7) in the casing, and thus the cylinder-head I" is prevented from turning, while the rock-shaft H is free to ro-. tate about said head. The other end of the spring I abuts against the shoulder of the piston K and projects into the slot 70' in said piston. This spring is both under compression and under torsional tension.

The piston K is provided with a slot K for the ram mer L. This rammer passing through thehlots K9 and H prevents the piston from rotating in the cylinder,and thus the torsional effect of the spring I tends to swing. the cylinder or hollow rock-shaft and with it the carrier and tray. This tendency of the carrier'to rotate downward to the position indicated by the dotted lines a: scisee Figs. 5 and 6) is resisted by the arm 11 on the deflector-lever N (See Fig. 12.) This deflector-lever is rigidly attached to the shaft N, mounted in bearingse and c in the frame E, which shaft carries the deflector N, also rigidly attached thereto. This deflector is located in front of the part E of the frame This hollow rock-sh aft .70

E, as shown in Fig. 10, and is normally pressed 12o forward therefrom by the spring 0, mounted on the pin 0, which has an annular groove 0. (See Fig. 10.) This spring (its in a-soc'ke't'" e in the frame, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

When the parts arein position for automatic I25 action, a pressure on the deflector-plate, such as the ejection of an empty cartridge-case,'- will force the deflector backward against the action of this spring, and thus will disengage the arm n on, the deflector-lever from the' arm 11 of the carrier and allow the Tcarr-ier toswingoverundentheinfiuence'of thespring I. When it is desired to prevent this action, the pin-O is locked,= as by means of a lock P,

having a screw p engaging in the threads e (see Figs. 10, 14, and 15) and a notch 13 engaging the annular groove 0' on the pin 0.

The other end of this look P is provided with a catch 10 which engages in the recess 6, (see Fig. 10,) and the lock is provided with a knurledheadp'for convenience in manipulation. \Vhen the'lock P is in place, the deflecto'r cannot move backward, and therefore the arm 72?. on the deflector-lever will preventthe carrier from swinging to the loading position. At this time the gun maybe operated either by hand or semi-automatically, as preferred. p

M representsa bracket fast to the gun, which is provided with a tang M, adapted to strike the piston-head k when the gun recoils,'aud it is also provided with a cam M adapted to engage the cam 71 on the carrier and to rock the same back to the initial po-= sition before the breech opens. I

The firing apparatus includes certain mechanism whereby the trigger and sear may be thrown out of action and the firing-hammer may be automatically tripped at the required moment by the breech mechanism of the gun itself. The device for accomplishing this result consists, broadly speaking, of a tripping mechanism which coacts with the cocking-lever of the breech mechanism and is an tomatically operated'on its striking an abutment on the operating-lever of the breech mechanism the moment the breech-block has completed-its closing movement. This device is partly outlined in .Fig. 1 and is shown in detail on a larger scale in Figs. 16 to 21. In these figures the operating-bolt or shaft 0 carries, in addition to the handlever O'and the lug c for the semi-automatic gear, a cocking-arm which engages a cockinglever Q on the shaft Q. This shaft carries the firing-hammer Q and also the calchq. (See Figs. 16, 20, and 21.)

S represents a sliding detent, (shown in Fig. 19) which is provided with a tail 5', to which is connected the spring S, the other end of gie' spring being secured to the breech-block This slidingdetentliasguide-ribss,which travel in the frame T, mounted in the breechblock, and is provided with a catch 8 and with a nose 8*.

R represents the sear-spring, which abuts at one end r on the heel of the hammer Q and is attached at the other end to the arm Q projecting from said hammer.

- U represents the sear, which is connected,

.to the'catch u, which normally engages the catch g on theshaft Q when thegun is loaded,

but the firing mechanism is not cocked. This he kept pulled to the rear, as shown in Fig.

16, the automatic firing mechanism may be operated as follows: Assuming the gun to be fired and the breech closed, the parts will he in the position shown in Fig. 2 Then turning the hand=lever to the position shown in Fig. 21 would cause the cocking-arm Q to pressback the sliding detent S, causing the end of said arm to engage in the catch 3 v and at the same time the sear-spring R would be compressed and the hammer would be cooked. O'n closing the breech the parts would remain in the position shown in Fig. 21 until the arm 0 and cam c reach the posilion indicated in Fig. 16. Aslight further movement of the hand-lever O to the right will cause the lug on the shaft 0 to press back the nose-s of the sliding detent and will release the cocking-arm Q from the catch s allowing the sear-spring to throw the hammer to the firing position.

The operation of the entire apparatus is then as follows: Suppose the breech to be opened, the hopperto have one or more cart'ridges therein, the lock of the deflector to be disengaged, and the hand firing-lanyard to be drawn back. Then pull on the head of the deflector and let go. This will cause the deflector to rock, freeing the deflector-lever N from engagement with the arui H on the carrier, which will allow the carrier to swing to the right under the torsional effectof the spring I. As the carrier swings the rammer is held against the axial pressure of the spring I by the abutment h in the recess h When the carrier has reached its downward positionand the' ralnlner is in line with the axis of the chamberof thegun, the rammer strikes the abutment e on the shoulder-piece, Fig. 4, freeingit from the abutment h and allowing it to move forward under the axial pressure of the spring I. This will force thecartridge into the chamber of the gun, and as the rim of the cartridge-case strikes the extractor the breech-block will be released and the semiautomatic gear will close the breech, as indicated in our patent, No. 649,393, aforesaid.

Just after the breech-block is in the closed position the slight further rotation of the rock-shaft O will cause the arm C to press. back the nose s of the sliding detent S, which will release the catch s from engagement with the cocking-arm Q, and the shaft Q will j rotate under the influence of the sear-spring,

causing the hammer Q to explode the primer and fire the gun. When the gun has been fired it will of course recoilin the cradle, and the cam M on the bracket M, fast to the gun, will engage the cam-arm h on the rock-shaft H and will rock the carrier to the initial poposition and locked. The spring Owill in the meantime haverestored the deflector to the initial position, causing the deflector-lever to, engagethe arm H and lock the carrier inthe initial position. On counter-recoil the semi-automatic gear opens the breech and cocks the firing mechanism and the mo tractor throws the empty cartridge-case to therear, This case strikes the deflector N,

producing the same effect as the short pull by hand in thefirst instance, and the operation of, loading and firing automatically is repeated. ,flhis cycle of operations is repeated indefinitely so long as the hopper contains one or,more cartridges.

By referring to Fig. 6 it will be seen that if no means were provided to prevent it when the last cartridge in the hopper has been fired on the return of the gun to battery the breech would open and the loading mechanism would go through the, motions of loading the gun, but without having any cartridge to load with. The result would be that the breech would be inan open position and the carrier would be in its downward position, resting on the top of the breech block. Therefore in order, to continuethe fire it would be necessary to raise the carrier and cook the ram mer by hand until they were held in place by the defiectoiwlever. 'lo avoid this, we have arranged, the mechanism shown in Fig. 6.

When the carrier returns to its upper position, the tray H* strikes the side of the hopper F, and the said tray revolves about its shaft h*, as shown in Fig. 5. This brings the hook h in line with the catch or abutment f", and r as the carrier swings to the right again this hook h engages the catch f and locks the carrier in the position indicated in Fig. 6. When in this position, if the empty cartridgecase strikes the deflector when ejected the carrier is not released and does not swing down, as usual. Had there been a cartridge in the hopper on the return of the carrier to its upward position it would have fallen into the carrier, and resting on the projection 71*, as shown in Fig. .5, would have tilted the hook h", thus preventing it from engaging with the catch f. Ifnow the parts he in the position shown in Fig. 6 and one or more cartridges be put into the hopper, as indicated in dotted lines at Z, and pressed down by hand or by their own weight, the tray II" would swing to the left aboutits pivot 71 the hook it would be disengaged from the catch f", and the carrier would be unlocked and ready to take up its cycle of motion.

To fire senii automatically, the gun may be loaded, the deflector-plate being locked and the cartridges supplied by hand, as described aloresaidfbut'of course the firing-lanyard must be'release daln'd pulled in the usual way,

as when-firingsingleshot byhand.

It w-il-l'gbensee'ri that th'e' iu to nat ic firing mechanism will hot operateunlessjtlie flring lanyardqb'e kept per maiiently pu p, If, on tlielothei'han'd it is" dcs'ilred'ti tomatical'ly; using thejh'ppper and loadingtray,itris sul'licierit' niere'l'y'to release the firing-lanyard, when the gun will be automatbe automatically fired or fired at all ically loaded after each fire; but it will notuntil the lanyard be pulled.

It will be seen that the device cannot be operated until the breech is opened and the empty cartridge-case removed. I

It will be noted that the parts are so assembled that the automatic loading attachment, including the casing and hopper and the carrier and tray, may be quickly removed by simply taking out or puttingin the bolts G and G. It will also be evidentthat the automatic firing attachment is normally out of the way, is protected by the gun, and is inoperative except when the lanyard is pulled back.

It will also be seen that the deflector and its attachments may be readily removed from the gun and replaced thereon when desired. All of the foregoing assembling and disassembling of parts may be accomplished with-- out the use of any special tools, which is especially desirable under the conditions in which cannon of this character are employed.

-It will be obvious that various modifications of the herein-described apparatus might be made which could be used without depart-' ing from the spirit of our invention, and we do not mean to limit ourselves to details of construction or combinations or arrange ments of parts, except asspecifically stated in the claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is 1. In a recoil-mount'for the cradle, a swinging loading-trayjcarried by said cradle, and mechanism operated by breech-loading guns, the combination with the gun-body, of

the recoil of the gun for rocking said-tray to the loading position and for delivering the cartridge from the tray to the chamber, with a'spring-im pressed pivoted rammer swinging with the tray, substantially as described.

'2. In a recoil mount for breech -loading guns, the combination with the gun-body and cradle, of a swinging loadingm-ay carried by said cradle, a pivoted rammer, swinging longitudinally of the gun, and mechanism operated by the recoil of the gun for rocking said tray to the loading position and for operating said rammer, sul'lstautially as described.

3. In a recoil-mount for breech-loading guns, the combination with the gun-body and the cradle, of a rocking carrier, a -t ray pivoted to said carrier, a catch carried by said tray and a hook on the frame engaging said catch until released by the weight of a cartridge, and irrechan'ism operated by the recoil of the gu n for rocking-said carrier and thus swinging said tray'itii the loading position,

with a' spring impressed pivoted rammer swinging with the tra'yyfor delivering a cartridge from saidtray tothe chamber of the gun, substantially as' described.

4. In a recoil-moun't 'for guns, the combination with the gun-body and breech loading IIO cradle, of the carrier pivoted to said cradle. a tray pivoted to said carrier, a hopper for delivering cartridges to said tray, a pivoted rammer swinging longitudinally of the gun. and a recoil-spring actuated by the recoil of the gun and rocking said carrier and thus swinging said tray to the loading position and operating said ram mer, substantially as described.

5. In a recoil-mount for breech-loading guns, the combination with the gun-body and cradle, of a swinging loading-tray carried by said cradle, means for feeding the cartridges seriat'im to said tray, a pivoted rammer swinginglongitudinallyofthegun, and mech anism actuated by the recoil of the gun for rocking said tray to the loading position and for operating said rammer, substantially as described.

6. In a recoil-mount for breech-loading guns, the combination with the gun-bodyand cradle, of a swinging loading-tray carried by said cradle, means for feeding the cartridges seriatim to said tray, a pivoted ram mer swinging longitudinally of the gun, and a coilspring under torsion and compression actuated by the recoil of the gun for rocking said tray to the loading position and for operating said rammer, substantially as described. '7. In a recoil-mount for breech-loading guns, the combination with the gun-body and cradle, of a loading apparatus carried by said cradle and automatically operated by the recoil of the gun, and a deflector pivoted on the frame and operated by the empty cartridge-case with mechanism actuated by said deflector for releasing the loading apparatus, substantially described.

8. In a recoil-mount for breech-loading guns, the combination with the gun-body, of

the cradle, a swinging loading-tray hinged parallel to the axis of the bore and carried by said cradle, mechanism operated by the.

recoil of the gun for rocking said tray to the loading position and for delivering the cartridges from the tray to the chamber, a deflector pivoted on the frame, and mechanism operated thereby for releasing the loading apparatus when the empty cartridge-case is ejected, substantially as described.

9. In a recoil-mount for breech-loading guns, the combination with the gun-body,of the cradle, a swinging loadiug-traycarried by said cradle, mechanism operated by the recoil of the gun for rocking said tray to the loading position and for delivering the cartridges from the tray to the chamber, a deflector pivoted on the frame, and mechanism operated thereby for releasing the loading apparatus when the empty cartridge-case is ejected, substantially as described. l

10. In a recoil-mount for breech-loading guns, the combination with the gun-body and cradle, of a swinging loading-tray carried by said cradle, a pivoted rammer, a coil-spring under compression and torsion, actuated by the recoil of the gun for rocking said tray to the loading position and for operating said rammer, and a deflector, and mechanism operated thereby for releasing the loading apparatus when the empty cartridge-case is ejected, substantially as described.

ll. In a recoil-mount for-,breech-loading ,guns, the combination witlut hegun-body and cradle, of a swinging loading-tray carried bysaid cradle, a pivoted rammer, a coil-spring under compression and torsion, actuated by the recoil of the gun for rocking said tray to the loading position and for operatingsaid rammer, and a deflector pivoted to the frame, and mechanism operated thereby for releasing the loading apparatus when the empty cart ridge-case is ejected, substantially as described.

12. In a recoil-mount for breech-loading guns, the combination with the gun-body and the cradle, of a rocking carrier, a tray pivoted to said carrier, mechanism operated by the recoil of the gun for rocking said carrier and thus swinging said tray to the loading position, and for delivering a cartridge from said tray to the chamber of the gun, and a detlector pivoted to the frame, and mechanism operated thereby for releasing'the loading apparatus when the empty cartridge-case is ejected, substantially as described.

13. In a recoil-mount for breech-loading guns, the combination with the gun-body and cradle, of the carrier pivoted to said cradle, a tray pivoted, to said carrier, a hopper for delivering cartridges to said tray, mechanism operated by the recoil of the gun'fo'r rocking said carrier and thus swinging said tray to the loading position, and for delivering the cartridge from said tray to the chamber of the gun, and a deflector pivoted to the frame, and mechanism operated thereby for releasing the loadingapparatus when the empty cartridge-case is-ejected, substantially as described.

14. In a recoil-mount forbreech-loading guns, the combination with the gun-body and cradle, of a spring-operated loading apparatus carried by said cradle and automatically controlled by the recoil of the gun, and a defiector pivoted to the frame, placed in the path of the ejected cartridge-case for releasiug said loading apparatus when the cartridge is ejected, substantially as described.

15. In a recoil-mount for breech-loading guns, the combination with the gun-body, of the cradle, a spring-operated swinging loading-tray carried by said cradle, mechanism operated by the recoil of the gun for rocking said tray to the loading position and for delivering the cartridge from the tray to the ratns when the cartridge is ejected, substantially as described.

16. In a recoil-mount for breech-loading guns, the combination with the gun-body and cradle, of a swinging loading-tray carried by said cradle, a coil-spring under torsional strain rocking said tray, means for feeding the cartridges sem'att'm to said tray, a pivoted rammer also operated by said spring, and automatic mechanism for releasing said tray and allowing it to be swung under the action of said spring, substantially as described.

17. In a recoil-mount for. breech-loading guns, the combination with the gun-body and cradle, of a swingingloading-tray carried by said cradle, a pivoted rammer, a coil-spring under compression and torsion operated by the recoil of the gun for rocking said tray to the loading'position and for operating said raminer, and a deflector and mechanism operated thereby for releasing the loading apparatus when the empty cartridge-case is ejected, substantially as described.

18. In a recoil-mount for breechloading guns, the combination with the gun-body and the cradle, of a rocking carrier, a tray pivoted to said carrier, a coilwspring under compression and torsion operated by'the recoil of the gun for rocking said carrier and thus swinging said tray to the loading position, a

rammer also operated by said spring for delivering a cartridge from said tray to the ch'amberof the gun, and a deflector and mechanism operated thereby for releasing the loading apparatus when the empty cartridgecase is ejected, substantially as described.

19. In a recoil-mount for breech-loading guns, an automatic loading apparatus prising a bracket fast to the gun and provided with a tang and a cam, a rocking carrier pivoted to the cradle, a loading-tray carried by said carrier, a piston mounted in said carrier, a coil-spring under torsion normally tending to rock said carrier to the loading position and to project said piston forward, the piston-head being struck by the tang on the recoil of the gun, a. pivotal rannner normally held in the rear position on said carrier against the forward pressure of said spring, and means for tripping said carrier and then releasing said rammer, substantially as described. 1 p l 1 20. In a recoil-mount for breech -loading guns,- a loading apparatus comprising a bracket fastto the gun and provided with a tang and a cam, a rocking carrier pivoted to the cradle and provided with. apiston adapted to engage said tang when the gun recoils and with an arm adapted to engage said cam, of a coil-spring under torsionn'ornnally pressingforward on said piston andalso tending to rock the carrier to the leading position, a pivoted rainmer projecting through said pis ton and holdingthe same against the rotary action ofsaid spring, means for normally holding the raminer in the rearward position, a loading-tray carried by saidcarr-ier, and rneans for releasing said rocking carrier alowing it to rock under the action of said spring'and for tripping said rammer when the :arrier rocks, substantiallyas described.

21. In a recoil-mount for breech-loading guns, an automatic loading apparatus comprising a bracket fast to the gun and provided with a tang and a cam, a rocking carrier pivoted to the cradle, a loading-tray carried by said carrier, a catch on said tray for locking said carrier in iheiuoperative position except when there is a cartridge in the tray, a piston mounted in said carrier, a coil-spring under torsion normally tending to rock said car" rier to the loading position and to project; said piston forward, the piston-head being struck by the tang on the recoil of the gun, a pivoted ram mer normally held in the rear position on said carrier against the forward pressure of said spring, and means for trip:

ping said carrier and then releasing said ram mer, substantially as described.

22. In a recoil-mount for breech-loading guns, a loading apparatus comprising a bracket fast to the gun and provided with a tang and a cam, a rocking carrier pivoted to the cradle and provided witha piston adapted to engage said tang when the gun recoils and with an arm adapted to engage said cam, of a coil-spring under torsion normally pressing forward on said piston and also tending to rock the carrier to the loading position, a pivoted raminer projecting through said piston and holding the same against the rotary action of said spring. means for normally holding the rammer in the rearward loading-tray carried by said carrier, a catch on said tray for locking said carrier in theinoperative position except when there is a cartridge in the tray, and means for releasing said rocking carrierallowing it to rock under the action of said spring and for tripping said rammer when the carrier rocks, substantially as described.

23. In a recoil-mount for breech-loading guns a loading apparatus comprising a bracket fast to the gun and provided with a tang and a cam, a rocking carrier pivoted to position, a

thecradle and provided with a piston adapted to engage said tang When the gun recoils and with an arm adapted to engage said can], of a coil-spring under torsion normally pressing forward on said piston and also tending to rock the carrier to the loadingpos'ition, a pivoted rammer projecting through said piston and holding the same againstthe rotary action of said spring, means folnormally holding the rammer in the rearward position,

means actuated by the empty cartridge-case,

when ejected, for releasing said rocking carrier, and means for tripping said rammer when the carrier rocks, substantially as described. I

24. In a. recoil-mount for breech-loading guns, a loading apparatus comprising a bracket fast to the gun and provided with a tang and a cam, a rocking carrier pivoted to the cradle and provided With a to engage said tang when the gun recoils and a coil-spring under piston adapted with an arm adapted to engage said cam, oi"

torsion normally pressing forward on said piston and also tending to rock the carrier to the loading position, a

pivoted ram mer projecting through said piston and holding the same against the rotary action of said spring, means for normally holding the rammerin the rearward position, a spring-impressed deflector arranged in the path of the ejected cartridge-case and adapted to yield when struck thereby, and mechanism controlled by said deflector for releasing said rocking carrier and allowing it to rock, substantially as-described.

25. In a recoil-mount for breech-loading guns, a loading apparatus comprising a bracket fast to the gun and provided with a tang and a cam, a rocking carrier pivoted to the cradle and provided with a piston adapted to engage said tang when the gun recoils and with an arm adapted to engage said cam, of a coil-spring under torsion normal-1y pressing forward on said piston and also t-endingto rock the carrier to the loading position, a piv-' oted rammer projecting through said piston and holding the same against the rotary action of said spring, means for'norinaily holding the rammer'in the rearward posit-ion, a pivoted loading-tray carried by said carrier, a catch on said tray for locking said carrier in the inoperative position until a cartridge is inserted in said tray, means actuated by the empty cartridge-case, when ejected, for releasing said rocking carrier, and means for tripping said rainmer when the carrier rocks, substantially as described.

26. In a recoil-mount for ln-eech-loadiug guns, a loading apparatus comprising a bracket fast to the gun and provided with a tang and a cam, a rocking carrier pivoted to the cradle and provided with a piston adapted to engage said tang when the gun recoils and with an arm adapted to engage said cam, of a coil-spring under torsion normally pressing forward on said piston and also tending to rockthe carrier to the loading position, a pivoted rammer projecting through saidpiston and holding the same against the'rotary action of said spring, means for normally holding the rammer in the rearward position, a pivoted loading-tray carried by said carrier, a catch on said tray for locking said carrier in the inoperative position until a cartridge is inserted in said tray, a spring-impressed deflector arranged in the path of the ejected cartridge-case and adapted to yield when struck thereby, and mechanism controlled by said deflector for releasing said rocking carrier and allowing it to rock, substantially as described. i

27. In a recoil-mount for breech-loading guns, the combination with the loading apparatus and automatic means for operating the same, of a' spring-im pressed deflector located in the path of the ejected cartridge-case and adapted to yield when struck thereby, tripping mechanism operated by said deflector for releasing the loading mechanism, with a the action of said cartridge-case when desired, substantially as described.

' 28. A deflector for use in guns of the character described, comprising a plate hinged to the gun-frame, a spring in rearof said plate, normally yielding'when said plate is struck by the ejected cartridgecase, and means for locking said plate in a rigid position, when desired, substantially as described.

29; A deflector for use in guns of the charactor described, comprising a plate hinged to the gun-frame, a springinrear of said plate, normally yielding when said plate is struck by the ejected cartridge-case, a stud projecting from the rear of said plate, and madjustable lock for engaging said stud and looking said plate in the rigidposition, when desired, substantially as described.

30. The combination with adeflector-plate hinged to the frame of the gun and a spring in rear of said plate, of an arm actuated by said plate and a hinged carrier having a lug normally engaging said arm, but released when said deflector is pressed backward, with means for rocking said carrier to the loading position, substantially as described.

31. The-combination with adetle'ctor-plate hinged to the frame of the gun and a spring in rear of said plate, of an arm actuated by said plate and a hinged carrier having a lug normally engaging said arm, but released when said deflector is pressed backward, with e a coil-spring under torsion for rocking said carrier to the loading position, substantially as described.

32. The combination with a deflector-plate hinged to the frame of the gun and a spring in rear of said plate, of an arm actuated by said plate, and a hinged carrier-having a lug normally engaging said arm, but released when said deflector is pressed backward, a raunnor pivoted in said carrier, and means for rocking said earrierto the loading position and for operating said rammer, substantially as described.

33. The combination with a deflector-plate hinged to the frame of the gun and a spring in rear of said-plate, of an arm actuated by said plate, and a hinged carrier having a lug normally engaging said arm, but released when said deflector is pressed backward, a

rammer pivoted in said carrier, and a coilspring under torsion and compression for rocking said carrier to the loading position and for operatingsaid rammer, substantially as described.

34. A loading apparatus for guns of the character described, comprising a cylindrical case with lugs projecting on one side thereof, a slotted piston mounted in said case, a rammer pivoted in said lugs and projecting through said slotted piston, a coil-spring under torsion and compression mounted in rear of said piston, a swinging tray carried by said cylindrical case, means for holding the lock for holding the deflector rigid against I loading apparatus in the inoperativepo'sition and for releasing same when desired, and means operated by the recoil of the gun for compressing said piston and so storing up energy in said spring, substantially as and for the purposes described.

35. A loading apparatus for guns of the character described, comprising a cylindrical case with lugs projecting on one side thereof, a slotted piston mounted in said case, a rammer, pivoted in said lugs and projecting through said slotted piston, a coil-spring under torsion and compression mounted in rear of said piston, a swinging tray carried by said described. 36. In a gun of the character described, the.

combination with a casing detachably connected to the cradle of the gun, of an auto matic loading apparatus mounted in said casing and removable therewith from the cradle, substantially as described.

'37. In a gun of the character described, the com bination with the gun and cradle, of acas ing,:bolts detachably connecting said casing to said cradle, and loading apparatus mounted in said casing and removable therewith from said cradle, substantially as described.

38. Thecombination with the gun and cradle, ofla casing detachably connected to said cradle,a loading apparatus rem ovably mounted in said casing, and mechanism actuated by name the recoil of the gun for operating said loadin apparatus, substantially as described.

39. The combination with the gun and cradle, of a casing detachably connected to said cradle, a hopper integral with said casing, a loading apparatus removably mounted in'said casing, and mechanism actuated by the recoil of the gun for operating said loading apparatus, substantially as described.

40. The combination with the gun and cradle, of a casing detachably connected to said cradle, a loading apparatus, comprising a rocking carrier and a pivoted manner, with a spring for operating the same removably mounted in said casing, and mechanism actuated by the recoil of-the gun for operating said loading apparatus, substantially as described.

41. Thecombination with the gun and cradle, of a casing detachably connected-to said cradle, a hopper integral with said casing,-a loading apparatus, comprising a rocking carrier, a swinging tray pivoted thereto','-a pivoted rammer rocking with said carrier, and a spring for operating said rammer and rocking said carrier, said carrier, rammer, and spring being connected together and removable as one piece from said casing, with mechanism actuated by the recoil of the gun for operating said loading apparatus, substantially as described. 5

In testimony whereof We affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

LAURENCE v. BEL ET.

, HENRI A. MERoIE. -Witnesses:

CHARLES- KURER, A. Q, KOERNER. 

